Version 1.0 Aug.

2008
Humidity at a Glance
Most Relevant Equations with Sample Code


This summary provides on overview on the most-used humidity-related formulas. The sample code is optimized for
microprocessors (e.g. the common logarithm log10 is used rather than the natural logarithm ln). For an in-depth study of
the equations please refer to our complimentary paper Introduction to Humidity available on www.sensirion.com/humidity.


1 Relative humidity

Condition: Constant absolute humidity (e.g. closed systems).



( (( ( ) )) )( (( ( ) )) )






+ ++ + + ++ +

= == =
2 1
2 1
1 2
exp
t T t T
t t
T m RH RH
n n
n



RH1 relative humidity at position 1
RH2 relative humidity at position 2
t1 temperature in C at position 1
t2 temperature in C at position 2
m 17.62
Tn 243.12 C

Sample code: RH2 = RH1*exp(4283.78*(t1-t2)/(243.12+t1)/(243.12+t2));


2 Dew point

Definition: The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for
water vapor to condense into water.


( (( ( ) )) )






+ ++ +

+ ++ + | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |

+ ++ +

+ ++ + | || |

| || |

\ \\ \
| || |
= == =
t T
t m RH
m
t T
t m RH
T RH t t
n
n
n d
% 100
ln
% 100
ln
,

td dew point temperature in C
t actual temperature in C
RH actual relative humidity in %
m 17.62
Tn 243.12 C

Sample code: H = (log10(RH)-2.0)/0.4343+(17.62*t)/(243.12+t);
td = 243.12*H/(17.62-H);


3 Absolute humidity

Definition: The absolute humidity is the mass of water vapor in a particular volume of dry air. The unit is g/m
3
.


( (( ( ) )) )














+ ++ +
| || |
| || |

| || |


\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ +


= == =
t
t T
t m
A
RH
RH t d
n
v
15 . 273
exp
% 100
7 . 216 ,

dv absolute humidity in g/m
3

t actual temperature in C
RH actual relative humidity in %
m 17.62
Tn 243.12 C
A 6.112 hPa

Sample code: dv = 216.7*(RH/100.0*6.112*exp(17.62*t/(243.12+t))/(273.15+t));

Humidity at a Glance




www.sensirion.com Version 1.0 Aug. 2008 2/2
4 Mixing ratio

Definition: The mixing ratio is the mass of water vapor in a particular mass of dry air. The unit is g/kg.


( (( ( ) )) )
| || |
| || |

| || |


\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ +


| || |
| || |

| || |


\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ +


= == =
t T
t m
A
RH
p
t T
t m
A
RH
RH t r
n
n
exp
% 100
exp
% 100
622
,

r mixing ratio in g/kg
t actual temperature in C
RH actual relative humidity in %
p barometric air pressure in hPa
m 17.62
Tn 243.12 C
A 6.112 hPa

Sample code: e = RH/100.0*6.112*exp(17.62*t/(243.12+t));
r = 622.0*e/(p-e);


5 Heat index

Definition: The heat index is determined according to the National Weather Service and Weather Forecast Office of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).


( (( ( ) )) )







| || |
| || |

| || |


\ \\ \
| || |
+ ++ +

+ ++ + = == = 10 exp
% 100 9
5
,
t T
t m RH
t RH t HI
n
Celsius


( (( ( ) )) ) 32
5
9
, + ++ + = == =
Celsius Fahrenheit
HI RH t HI

HICelsius Heat index in C
HIFahrenhei t Heat index in F
t actual temperature in C
RH actual relative humidity in %
m 17.62
Tn 243.12 C


Sample code: p = RH/100.0*exp(17.62*t/(243.12+t));
HIC = t+5.0/9.0*(p-10.0); // this is the heat index in Celsius
HIF = 9.0/5.0*HIC+32.0; // this is the heat index in Fahrenheit

Revision History
Date Revision Changes
Aug. 20, 2008 1.0 Initial version


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